Method for detecting and managing an offense committed by a motor vehicle

Abstract

A method for detecting and managing a motor vehicle traffic violation includes the steps of: detection (201) by a security unit of a traffic violation committed by the motor vehicle; sending (205) by the security unit to the motor vehicle a request for identification via a wireless link; receiving (207) by the security unit a message transmitted by the motor vehicle via the wireless link, the message including a motor vehicle identifier and a motor vehicle driver identifier; sending (209) by the security unit to a server a violation message containing the identifiers and evidence of the violation. A system for detecting and managing a motor vehicle traffic violation and a motor vehicle including a device integrated into the system are also described. Figure to be published with the abstract: Fig 2

Description

Title of the invention: Method for detecting and managing an offense committed by a motor vehicle. Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for detecting and managing an offense committed by a motor vehicle, a computer program product, a system for detecting and managing an offense committed by a motor vehicle, and a motor vehicle comprising a device associated with such a system. State of the art

[0002] The V2X (Vehicle-To-Everything) protocol is a standard for exchanging information between a vehicle and infrastructure or another vehicle. It is a short-range wireless communication technology and a key technology for future intelligent transportation systems. It enables communication between vehicles, between vehicles and base stations, and between two base stations, in order to obtain a range of traffic information, such as real-time road conditions, road information, pedestrian information, etc. This protocol also enables wireless payment functions, such as toll payments, to improve driving safety, reduce traffic congestion, and enhance traffic efficiency.

[0003] This protocol is standardized by the SAE International association. In particular, the SAE J2735 document (version of 09 / 2023) details the form and content of the exchanged messages.

[0004] The V2X protocol thus allows a vehicle to communicate with its environment, whether it be other vehicles or infrastructure such as road signs.

[0005] Furthermore, law enforcement agencies monitor traffic and compliance with regulations. For example, automatic speed cameras are positioned along roads to detect vehicles exceeding the speed limit or running red lights or crossing solid lines. When an infraction is detected, the vehicle's license plate is used to identify it and to transmit the penalty, usually a fine, associated with the infraction to the vehicle's driver.

[0006] Handling traffic violations is often complicated by license plate misreading due to weather conditions or obstructions. Furthermore, some vehicles may also be driven with counterfeit license plates.

[0007] There is therefore a real need for a process and a system for detecting and managing motor vehicle offences which resolves all or part of the aforementioned drawbacks. Description of the invention

[0008] To resolve one or more of the aforementioned drawbacks, according to a first embodiment, a method for detecting and managing an offense committed by a motor vehicle comprises the following steps: • detection by a security unit of an offence committed by the motor vehicle; • sending by the security unit to the motor vehicle a request via a wireless link for identification request; • reception by the security unit of a message emitted by the motor vehicle via the wireless link, the message including a motor vehicle identifier and a motor vehicle driver identifier; • The security unit sends an offense message to a server containing the identifiers and evidentiary data of the offense.

[0009] Thus, the management of offences is automated and made more reliable by the use of a wireless link, typically a V2X link.

[0010] Specific features or embodiments, usable alone or in combination, are: • The process also includes the server sending a message to the motor vehicle informing them of the processing of the offence; • the motor vehicle displays the information message on a terminal; • the wireless connection is secure; • the message emitted by the vehicle also includes information about the characteristics of the motor vehicle; • The evidence includes a photograph of the vehicle's license plate; and / or • The process includes a step where the server verifies the photographed license plate against the registration number associated with the vehicle identifier in a database.

[0011] In a second embodiment, a computer program product includes program code instructions for implementing the above process when the program product is executed on a computer.

[0012] In a third embodiment, a system for detecting and managing an offense committed by a motor vehicle includes a computer associated with a memory and configured to implement the above method.

[0013] In a fourth embodiment, a motor vehicle includes a device configured to receive a request via a wireless link for authentication and to send in response a message via the wireless link, the message including an identifier of the motor vehicle and an identifier of the driver of the motor vehicle. Brief description of the figures

[0014] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description, given solely by way of example, and with reference to the figures in the appendix in which: • [Fig. 1] represents a top view of a system for detecting and managing an offense committed by a motor vehicle according to one embodiment; and • [Fig.2] represents a flowchart of a process for detecting and managing an offence committed by a motor vehicle according to one embodiment. Methods of implementation

[0015] The embodiments presented below refer to a motor vehicle, a car. However, those skilled in the art understand that they are also applicable to other types of vehicles such as vans, trucks, etc.

[0016] The terms "front", "rear", "top", "bottom", "transverse" are understood in relation to the vehicle.

[0017] With reference to [Fig.1], a security unit 101 includes an offence detection device 103. In the described embodiment, the offence detection device 103 is illustrated in the form of an automatic speed detection radar.

[0018] Device 103 is connected to a management computer 105 of unit 101. Computer 105 is connected to a transmitter 107 adapted to send and receive messages of the V2X protocol.

[0019] The calculator 105 is also connected to a communication interface 109 of a long-distance wireless link 115 with a server 121. The long-distance wireless link is, for example, a 4G / 5G type mobile telephony link.

[0020] The server 121 includes a computer 123 connected to a database 125 of vehicles circulating in the country. This database contains, for example, vehicle registration data as well as their main characteristics (make, model, body color, etc.). It also contains the identification data of the vehicle owners and, possibly, of the drivers associated with the vehicles.

[0021] The calculator 123 is also connected to a transmitter 127 adapted to receive or send messages via the wireless link 115.

[0022] Furthermore, a motor vehicle 131 is located at a distance from the security unit 101 that allows for the exchange of V2X messages. The vehicle 131 includes a computer 133 connected to a V2X transmitter 135 for sending and receiving V2X messages. The computer 133 is also connected to a transmitter 137 adapted for sending and receiving messages via the wireless link 115.

[0023] The control unit 133 is further connected to a camera 139 configured to recognize the driver of the motor vehicle 131. The control unit 133 is also connected to a memory 141 containing an identifier for the motor vehicle 131 as well as its characteristics. The memory 141 also contains a list of drivers of the vehicle 131.

[0024] The operation of the system is as follows, [Fig.2].

[0025] The offence detection device 103 detects, step 201, that the vehicle 131 is committing a speeding offence.

[0026] It transmits, step 203, the information on the offence to the calculator 105 with the evidentiary elements such as a photograph of the vehicle 131 containing the speed information.

[0027] The computer 105 transmits, step 205, to the computer 133 of the vehicle 131 via a V2X message, a request for identification.

[0028] In response, the computer 133 transmits, step 207, to the computer 105 the vehicle identifier, its main characteristics as well as the driver identifier.

[0029] This information with the elements related to the offence is transmitted, step 209, to server 121 via wireless link 115.

[0030] Server 121 analyzes, step 211, the information received in order to determine the terms of the penalty related to the offence, for example the amount of the fine, and in order to retrieve the information contained in database 125 concerning the vehicle and the driver in order to send, step 213, the penalty management documents to the driver or the owner of the vehicle.

[0031] Thus, the system allows for the automatic management of infractions by security units. And this management is made more reliable by the V2X link, which is structurally more robust than reading a license plate from a photograph.

[0032] The V2X exchange between the security unit 101 and the vehicle 133 is preferentially secure: the exchange is encrypted so that a third party cannot access the content, and the security unit and the vehicle are authenticated by cryptographic mechanisms such as electronic signatures. Thus, the vehicle only responds to the message after verifying that the request was issued by a legitimate security unit, and the security unit can verify that the response message contains authentic data.

[0033] Figure 1 illustrates a system according to certain embodiments. The breakdown presented is for pedagogical purposes to highlight the different functions. However, it is understood that each block can be implemented using different means or combinations thereof, such as hardware components, software, one or more computers, and / or electronic circuits. Each component may include at least one computer or a control unit. At least one memory may be included in each component. The memory may include computer program instructions or software code.

[0034] The computers can be implemented by any type of data processing device, such as a central processing unit, a signal processing unit, a specific application integrated circuit, a programmable gate network, etc. The computers can be implemented in the form of a single controller, or a plurality of controllers or computers.

[0035] The different modules are connected to each other by data links adapted to the environment. These can be wired or wireless.

[0036] For the software, the implementation may comprise modules or units distributed in the form of procedures, functions, etc. The memories may be any type of storage circuit. They may be part of the processor circuit, or separate from it and connected via electrical data links. These may be non-volatile memories, hard drives, RAM, flash memory, etc.

[0037] The software product can be downloaded from a communication network and / or stored on a computer-readable medium. It can be directly executable by a processor or be in the form of a high-level language requiring one or more intermediate operations to be executable.

[0038] Thus the program instructions stored in memory and processed by the computers can be any type of program code, for example, a compiled or interpreted program written in a suitable programming language.

[0039] The computer program instructions stored in memory are such that, when executed by the computer, the latter carries out one or more of the steps of the processes described above.

[0040] The invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and the preceding description. This description is to be considered illustrative and given by way of example and not as limiting the invention to this single description. Numerous embodiments are possible.

[0041] In a first variant, the 121 server sends a message directly to the vehicle to inform its occupants that an infraction has been detected. The vehicle then displays this message on a screen-type terminal.

[0042] In a second variant, the message emitted by the vehicle includes vehicle characteristics such as its make, model, and body color. The message may also contain vehicle position information. This is used when many vehicles are on the road to verify that it is indeed the offending vehicle that is responding and not another nearby vehicle.

[0043] In a third variant, the evidence transmitted includes a photograph with the vehicle's registration plate; the server verifies that the vehicle identifier corresponds to the registration plate in database 125. This makes it possible to detect vehicles circulating with illegible or fake plates.

Claims

Demands

1. A method for detecting and managing an offence committed by a motor vehicle comprising the steps of: • detection (201) by a security unit of an offence committed by the motor vehicle; • sending (205) by the security unit to the motor vehicle a request via a wireless link for identification; • receiving (207) by the security unit a message transmitted by the motor vehicle via the wireless link, the message including a motor vehicle identifier and a motor vehicle driver identifier; • sending (209) by the security unit to a server an offence message containing the identifiers and evidentiary data of the offence.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising sending by the server to the motor vehicle an information message for processing the offence.

3. Method according to claim 2, wherein the motor vehicle displays the information message on a terminal.

4. A method according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the wireless link is secured.

5. A method according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the message emitted by the vehicle further includes information on the characteristics of the motor vehicle.

6. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the evidence includes a photograph of the vehicle's registration plate.

7. A method according to claim 6, further comprising a step of verifying by the server the photographed registration plate with the registration associated with the identifier of the motor vehicle in a database.

8. Computer program product characterized in that it includes program code instructions for implementing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7 when the program product is executed on a computer.

9. System for detecting and managing an offense committed by a motor vehicle (131) comprising a computer associated with a memory and configured to implement the method according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

10. Motor vehicle (131) comprising a device configured to receive a request via a wireless link for authentication and to send in response a message via the wireless link, the message comprising a motor vehicle identifier and a motor vehicle driver identifier.

Images